Kitty Ca$h debuts in visual art in collaboration with Hannah Traore – Essence

Kitty Ca$h is breaking latest ground. The DJ and producer, best known for her collaborations with artists across genres resembling Rico Nasty, 6lack, Kiana Lede and Denzel Curry, recently released her electronic EP titled in collaboration with New York gallerist Hannah Traore, adding an interactive element to the premiere enabling face-to-face meetings.

“The work took many forms until I landed in the space of these mini collectible boxes,” Ca$hz shares with ESSENCE. “It was really a question of: What do I do to process my emotions? How has music had a healing effect on me? And how I took this radical approach to taking responsibility for my self-love, how I came to say, OK, I actually think I can do this on a larger scale, because if I have these feelings consistently, I’m working on it every day. I’m sure other people have the same questions within themselves. This way I can take responsibility for taking care of myself as much as I always ask other people to do.”

In a quiet a part of the Hannah Traore Gallery, tucked away in New York’s bustling Lower East Side, Ca$hi Traore drew inspiration from the ceremonial mail room to ask participants to share their feelings, deepest desires, and private hopes. Across from a row of mailboxes, two sets of headphones, a pen and branded paper with a logo encouraged visitors to hearken to Kitty’s soothing sounds while reflecting and writing down their thoughts. Guests were then asked to “send” these expressions as “emotional mail” by placing their sheets in considered one of the mailboxes.

“If it were a candle, you wouldn’t be able to see through it,” says the Los Angeles artist. “So I wanted to give people a sense of privacy, and if you open it, you can see it. I wouldn’t do it, but many people did. Will people respect privacy or will everyone seek confirmation that someone else is going through the same thing? How honest is the other person? Am I really being honest?”

Ca$hi Traore have joined forces to push the boundaries of art and exhibition, breaking the fourth wall, inviting viewers to interpret the work in a different way. Art spaces can seem intimidating to many, especially those that don’t engage in art regularly. Creating an area where people could be vulnerable and actively participate makes the exhibition more accessible and dynamic, because the works of art tackle latest forms through the interaction of every viewer. In the exhibition, some cards face outwards; some face inwards, each with a novel handwriting and different numbers in each mailbox, offering a fresh experience each time someone steps inside.

Beginning her debut in visual art with the assistance of curator and gallerist Hannah Traore, it can be crucial to notice that Ca$h’s works function a public diary for people and encourage introspective considering, while also being a type of research for the artist. As a DJ, she uses crowdsourcing quite a bit, in order she does so, she sees what works and what doesn’t, with the hope that she’s going to give you the chance to take it to other institutions and cities.

“We need to continue these conversations in places where people can actually receive them,” Ca$h explains. “This is a point that has strengthened my self-confidence, as well as my own artistic vision, for which I am very grateful. There will be a part two, honey. We don’t stop here.”